The 64-year-old Rockefeller, a grandson of world renowned financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., was killed when his single-engine plane crashed near Westchester County Airport in Purchase near Cottage Avenue.

According to officials, Rockefeller, a seasoned pilot, departed Westchester County Airport at 8:08 a.m in his Piper PA-46 Malibu on his way to Portland, Maine, despite inclement weather conditions that included fog and rain.

Rockefeller traveled a mere six-tenths of a mile before the first reports of the crash came in at 8:23 a.m., officials said.

Harrison police chief Anthony Marraccini said the plane narrowly missed a house, which was occupied by multiple people at the time of the incident. No one at the scene was injured.

The plane crashed near the house, which has a barn and a showing area for horses, said Kevin Stewart of Red Cross Disaster Relief Unit. Stewart said that it appears Rockefeller was trying to avoid hitting the house before apparently crashing into a tree.

Westchester County Airport manager Peter Scherrer said the conditions at the time were a quarter mile visibility, with a 200-foot indefinite ceiling. Several commercial flights were canceled earlier in the day due to weather conditions.

Scherrer said while there was no fire at the scene, the plane broke into many pieces upon impact with trees on the property. Many of the pieces are lodged into the trees.

Scherrer said they could not confirm or speculate the pilot's motives during the crash.

Marraccini added that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were on the scene investigating.

The airport closed for flights after the crash but flights resumed at 9:45 a.m., according to Scherrer.

Rockefeller was returning home to Portland, Maine from celebrating the 99th birthday of his father, David Rockefeller, at the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico Hills.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said it was a shame such a happy occasion as David's birthday is now marked with such tragedy. He added though he did not know Richard personally, but sent the family his condolences earlier in the day.

"The Rockefeller family has played an important role in Westchester history," he said.

This is third fatality near Westchester County airport in four years, with previous incidents in 2012 and 2011.

For more on Richard Rockefeller, check this Daily Voice story published earlier today.

Comments (2)

In the 1970s I worked for a car service at Westchester County Airport and we occasionally took some of the Rockefellers from a private flight to the family estate in Pocantico Hills. They were always very pleasant people to deal with, courteous and friendly. Once when one of the Rockefeller brothers -- possibly David -- didn't have enough cash to pay the fare he invited me inside his home to wait while he looked for money. (Ironic, huh?) His wife offered me fruit while I waited. Very nice people.